What brand of flashlights contend with Surefire?

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I don't have time to de-geek all these CPF lights. it is frigging maddening. One of them I ordered wound up sucking a coworker and I into a vortex of fiddling while we tried to figure out how to get it to do what I wanted it to do, only to find out I had ordered the wrong model anyway and it wasn't the 5k49cx-1 that I should have bought but the 5k49cx-2. The good news is that it was cheap enough to just leave there on my desk as a monument to one more reason to simply buy Surefire.

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If I'm not mistaken, the CPF has a "shopping list" thread where you simply check off all your "wants" and "don't wants". It's quite detailed as they have listed all the possible features. They ask that you fill that form out when seeking advice on "which light should I buy?"

So that usually allows them to cut your potential list down to just a few lights to sort through. With all the possibilities these days it would be foolish to try to sort through all that when they can do it for you.

It took me a good little while to sort through 4 recommendations they gave me for a single CR123 pocket light. I can't imagine just going in cold and trying to sort it all out myself.

I've bought a lot of tactical lights over the years. "Good ones" like MagLight, Streamlight, Fenix, OLight, and Surefire. And a variety of "commodity ones" like Coast, Cabelas, Energizer, and a couple of others I can't recall the name of.

Surefire is both my quality and quantity leader. A2 Aviator (my first), E2 Executive (my carry rig light), P6 LED (night stand), P2X Fury (500 lumens!), X400 weapon light (for my AR), and now ..... drum roll ..... an E1 Backup that I won (arrived yesterday!) in the monthly Surefire registration drawing. Great lights from a great company.

Very happy with Fenix TK11R2 that's been on my Noveske for 2-3 years now. This light has no retard modes, only high and low and you set this by twisting the head and not by clicking with the button.

The tailcap click is great too, very simple - partial press for temporary ON and full press for FULL on. SIMPLE.

I'd like to get a SF Fury for the 500 lumens and wide cone of light however I'm put off by it because the first ON press is for the 15 lumen light level and you have to cycle the tailcap button a few times to get 500 lumes. This is no good for me.

For you guys with lot of SF experience, can I buy a different tailcap to get JUST ON/OFF with the Fury that also defaults to the 500 lumen mode?

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Originally Posted by grunz

I'd like to get a SF Fury for the 500 lumens and wide cone of light however I'm put off by it because the first ON press is for the 15 lumen light level and you have to cycle the tailcap button a few times to get 500 lumes. This is no good for me.

For you guys with lot of SF experience, can I buy a different tailcap to get JUST ON/OFF with the Fury that also defaults to the 500 lumen mode?

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The fury has two modes as you mentioned, low then high. You simply bump the clicky twice to activate the high 500 lumen mode.

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Originally Posted by HMC

More lumens.
Longer battery life.
Smaller.
Lighter weight.
More or better options.
SUBSTANTIALLY lower cost.

There are a number of lights out there that beat Surefire on ALL of those metrics.

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There are a number of actual users that could give a crap about more options, brighter lights etc.

Those of us that need a light to survive don't necessarily want the latest greatest brightest light that requires twisting turning and multiple button combinations to cycle through 20 modes of bs. Further more, a 300 lumen light is a no go when it comes to needs of many actual users. There are those that use flashlights as necessary tools to get the job done. There are also people who consider flashlights a hobby. Get it?

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Originally Posted by msap

Those of us that need a light to survive don't necessarily want the latest greatest brightest light that requires twisting turning and multiple button combinations to cycle through 20 modes of bs.

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The "I don't want lights with extra features" argument against non-Surefire lights is self-defeating. There are plenty of non-Surefire companies out there making simple lights that are either single mode or can be used as single mode. They are also every bit as durable and dependable as a Surefire, if not more so.

If people are too lazy to do 10 minutes worth of research to differentiate the simple lights from the more complicated ones, that is on them. Surefire ALSO makes some multi-mode lights with counter-intuitive user interfaces, but I don't write off the entire company because of it. I just don't buy those particular lights.

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Originally Posted by msap

There are those that use flashlights as necessary tools to get the job done. There are also people who consider flashlights a hobby. Get it?

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Those things are not mutually exclusive. I started researching lights BECAUSE I depend on them (LEO). And because I depend on my lights, and have done some research, that is exactly why I use a Malkoff drop in in my 6P instead of junk P60 that came with it or the flimsy P60LED replacement that Surefire makes. Just one example of many.

Like I said earlier, people like you fall into the category of "I'll buy a Colt because I've either used them or heard of them, and they make good stuff. But I won't consider a Daniel Defense, BCM, or Noveske because I haven't heard of them, and am too lazy to do any research or try them out." Yeah, you are doing just fine buying a Colt, but you may not be getting the very best product.

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Originally Posted by Hehuhates

No by all means finish your rant, just stay on topic. We are talking flashlights, not Tundras. I know for a fact I'm doing better for my fellow American workers by buying products they make. If you think differently I can't help you. If we keep buying cheaper widgets from China or wherever Americans will no longer make widgets. The Americans who used to make widgets are gonna do what? It's all in my up coming book "See Dick's job go overseas" --LOL

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I'm not going spend a lot of time debating global economics, as I said earlier it is too complicated for a forum like this and your understanding is obviously pretty simple anyway. If you don't understand how Japanese branded trucks assembled in the US with parts and raw materials from all over the globe is related to this, I can't help you. Friedman addresses your ridiculous widgets conundrum well in "The World is Flat." If you are truly interested, check it out. Needless to say, I'm not worried about the overall effect of America losing a few aluminum tube manufacturing jobs to China. I think we'll survive.

I will happily point out, however, that this is the only point I made anyone has challenged, so all the other points would appear to be rock solid.:D

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Originally Posted by toasterlocker

Those things are not mutually exclusive. I started researching lights BECAUSE I depend on them (LEO). And because I depend on my lights, and have done some research, that is exactly why I use a Malkoff drop in in my 6P instead of junk P60 that came with it or the flimsy P60LED replacement that Surefire makes. Just one example of many.

Like I said earlier, people like you fall into the category of "I'll buy a Colt because I've either used them or heard of them, and they make good stuff. But I won't consider a Daniel Defense, BCM, or Noveske because I haven't heard of them, and am too lazy to do any research or try them out." Yeah, you are doing just fine buying a Colt, but you may not be getting the very best product.

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I'm a cop as well bro. You're missing my point. Look at the quote in my post. I'm arguing that SF is not necessarily inferior because they don't have the latest and greates run times, lumens and dumb ass options. They stick to proven and simple products. I like that. I'll say it again, there are those of us who could care less about the "neat guy" options. I use Malkoff as well, in fact I posted that early in this thread. And I don't compare a SF P60 (incans) to LED's like you're doing. As far as the P60L. I agree that its not super bright but I've used them and would use them again. They get the job done just fine. How are they junk? I have yet to have one fail.

I stick with Surefire because of their CS. They have replaced a couple of lights without question for issues that I caused.

I have a couple of other branded lights for around the house but anything more rugged and it is SF all the way.

They gave me reason to believe that they support me in whatever I do, and comfortably return that loyalty.

Besides, the military/LEO discount takes the pain of the price out of it....